Electric flasher.



0. L. HEEGER. ELECTRIC FLASHER. APPLICATION FILED APR. {9; 1915- Patented Feb. 29,1916.

J52 I/e ntbr:

T HB COLUMBIA PMyounAm-l 60., WASHINGTOMD. I;

one L. HEE ER. on em. rnuninrnnnsom.

ELECTRIC, FLASHER."

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it-known that I, O'r'ro L. citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul inthe county of Ramsey and- State of Minnesota, have invented .a new and use ful Improvement 1n Electric Flashers; of 1 which thefollowing is a specification.-

My invention relates-toan improved;

flasher, the primary Object beingto provide a device for thepurpose of amusement'by nie'ans of' WhlCl1-1Il electric c rcuit 1s closed andopened to produce a flash o'flight whena person strikesthe device againstnn ob- J'ect, the blow automatically causing the closing and openingof the circuit for the amusement of'the spectators; The device is adapted to produce upon the stage the act or play, the device beingsoarranged as toprovide fiashingof light for scenic effects.

I In the accompanying drawing forming part of thlSSPBClfiCfltlOIl, F igure 1' 1s a longitudinal section of my invention; Fig. '2 is a section taken upon the line X-X of. Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line F-Y of Fig. 1, and Fig.4 is a plan of a detail of my invention. p I In the drawing, 2 indicates a head made of wood orother suitable insulating material having a flat surface 3 and curved lower surface 4, sald head acting as-a weight and serving to hold a terminal piece f an electric circuit inv a well GnWhlCll is formedin the head. Fastened in an openmg 7 in the side of the headfand projecting laterallytherefrom is a flexible handle memher 8 made of ratan or othersuitable material which is adapted to bend or yield when held in the hand and the head struck down. Laidlongitudinally along the lower side of this handle member is an insulated conducting wlre 10 leading from a conducting cord 11 to a binding screw 12 on the,

side of the head 2, the shank of said binding screw extending into said well and making connection with the terminal 5. Mounted upon the upper side of the handle member 8 opposite to the conductor 10 is a long flexible switch arm 13, the stationary end of which being insulated and connected to the electrical conductor 14 leading from the conducting cord .11. The conductor 10 and 3 switch arm l3are secured over the handle member 8 by an outer cover or jacket 15 of insulating material, said cover binding the switch arm and conductor 1Q .firmly on HEE ER, a a

I Specification of Letters latent. Patented F b. 29,11 916. "ApplicationfiledApril19,1915. Serial No. 22,333. I

the handle. The insulating body of i the conducting cord'11 isstripped from the conductcrs 10 and let a short distance backfrom the stationary end of. the/handles and the readily flexible portion of the conductors 10 and 14 extending between the end of the handle member 8 and the cord is thinly insulated softhat a freely flexible joint is produced enabling the user tomcre freely.

manipulate the'devic'e without bending the cord 11.v The outer covering 15 extends back over the cordll leaving a space within which theintervening portion of the conductors 10 and 13 between the cord and hanbvits head against anobiect, The free end of the switch :arm 13 is formed with a a weighted contact point 16 which normally is out of contact with the terminal 5, but strikes down against said terminal and completes the circuit when the head strikes by its-curved surface against anobject.

The terminal 5 can be made out of carbon, calclum 'CaIlO1dor other suitable materiah which owing'to its composition is adapted I to create a vivid flash of light whenthe switch arm-closes an electric circuit. The

contact point 16 likewise can be made out] of metal or any other suitable material.

When the terminal 5 becomes worn away it can be replaced by a fresh terminal by loosening the screw In operation the.

conductors-10 and 14 are connected with a suitable source of current such as derived from a lighting circuit or a battery andthe flasheris held by its handle and struck by the. lower surface 4 of its head against an object. the sharp impact causing a switch arm 13 to swing downwardly and the point 16 to close the" circuit. Immediately the springarm 13 flies back thus interrupting the circuit and producing a sharp flash.

The device; owing to its flexibilitv can be easily manipulated by the user, the hinge connection formed by the flexibleconnection intervening between the handle proper and the conductor cord allowing the devlce to be freely operated.

In accordance with the patent statutesI have described the principles of operation ofmy invention, together with the apparatuswhichI now'cons'ider torepresent the best embodiment thereof, butI desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative, andthatthe invention can belcarried out by other means 70 mdle is'free'toplav when the handle is struck j trical'terminal removablyheld in said ii 'ell l0 claims.-' M 'a Having described .my'in'vention', "what l claim as new and desire toprotect by Let-f tersPatentiS: a a 7 1. 1k flasher,- compr1s1ng, 1n combination,

a-liea'djmeinbei formedwitha well, an elecby said head, a flexible handle member e515 tending;lateifallyi'i'om said l1ead,,a flexible v "switch arm held iipo i sai'djhandle withjits free end adapted .to make contact against said terniinal, but nqrmally 'prg'ed Oilt 0fi contact, an electrlcal conductor cord having acondi ctors'connected With said switch arm and Saldf terminal and 'anjinsulat ngcover 1 holding" the statiqnary xporticnjnf said switcharm and the conductoi leading tesaid terminalfon said handle, said cover extending-back oversaid co'rd, the'e11d of saidf v g a l itestimonylwhereof, .I havesigned my I cord adjoining saidhandlef' b eing spaced *fi om'--the-shandle to'pei'mit-the conductors bending freelyand forming a laterally flex ible joint betweensaid cord and thevhandle.

2. A1 flasher, comprising, in combination,

"a head vmember formed with a Well, anfleled a tricalfterminal held in said ellfyvith its f cciiis of this patent maybe obtained for *nameft o this specification twosiibscribing Witnesses. a OTTOL.

1,174,007 r a j upperencl"exp sed,"aI handle-upoii Which said head is moiintedga flexible switch arm "carried-by said :handle with its free end adapted" to springdcW-n' againstsaid termi-' Qnfal' and normally' u'rged out of contact with a said terminal and electiicalcohdiictors con: ,g ie'cted to said switch armand saidte'r'minal saij cl switch arm and terminal when closed 1 ect 'ical cir being adapted QtO' Complete- 1 1 cuitpassing through saidccnductois. Y

3. An ele'ctrical flasher, comprising, in tccmbii ation, a holder", an electrical terminal 'supportedbysaid holde ga flexible switch arm suppbrted (by said helde'ii with its free end adapted toc ccntact ivithj said' terminal and-normally urged out 0f co 1tact,-;'said switchfarm andterminal being 'adaptedjto close an electrical circuit when said holder t "is; struck against an object and to instantly;

" separate to ,brreakya circuit; automatically;

immediately after said holder is struck: I f 5O ,in the presence 0t T rWitness esz" A 5 S. L: WASCHCENBIIIRGEX, l

F. G. BRA-DBURY.

five. cents each, by addressing the C0mmi s,si0ner of Patents, Washington, D, 0.1 i 

